Be a Part of Our School Play!

Ira B. Jones Elementary is proud to present our 23rd musical production, Beauty and the Beast JR, directed by Heather Gallagher of the Asheville Performing Arts Academy, with music direction by Jenni Park. Performances will be held on January 29-31, 2026.

Register for Beauty and the Beast »

Registration for chorus members in grades K-2 only is OPEN and must be completed by December 3. Online registration is strongly preferred, but a paper option is also available by request from your student’s teacher, if needed. Important information for participant families follows.

Quick Links

Weekly Rehearsal Schedule
Cast List & Performance Assignments
Rehearsal Volunteer Sign-Up
Beauty and the Beast Script (PDF)
Musical Numbers (“Which songs do I sing?”)
Audio Tracks (With Guide Vocals) for Practice at Home
Audio Tracks (Accompaniment Only) for Practice at Home
Acting Tips for Kids (PDF)
Show Contract

CHORUS MEMBERS (All K-2 STUDENTS)

Registration for chorus members is OPEN and must be completed by December 3.

Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade students are our chorus members, singing large musical numbers with a group. They can look forward to auditioning for cast roles when they reach 3rd grade! K-2 students will join rehearsals on Thursdays from 2:35-4 pm, beginning December 4.

CAST Members (GRADES 3-5 ONLY)

Registration for cast members has CLOSED.

Grades 3-5 rehearsals are on Thursdays from 2:35-4 pm, beginning September 25. Additional rehearsals for select roles only (small group of leads and occasionally grades 3-5 ensemble members, varying each week) are held on Wednesdays from 2:35-3:30 pm, beginning October 1.

Please review our Rehearsal Schedule at the beginning of each week to learn what the cast will be working on and whether your student should attend rehearsal on Wednesday in addition to Thursday.

STAGE CREW (GRADES 4-5 ONLY)

Registration for Stage Crew has CLOSED.

This group works with Set and Prop Designer Rachel Gordon to create sets and props, and to assist with set management and scene changes during performances. They meet weekly beginning December 4, unless otherwise specified on the Rehearsal Schedule.

Performances

  1. Thursday, January 29, at 9:30 am for Jones students, teachers, and staff.

  2. Friday, January 30, at 9:30 am for students of other local schools.

  3. Friday, January 30, at 6:30 pm for Jones families, friends, and broader community.

  4. Saturday, January 31, at 4 pm for Jones families, friends, and broader community.

Review the cast list for information about performance assignments for students with double-cast roles. All other cast, ensemble, and chorus members perform in all four shows.

All actors (including those in double-cast roles) and crew are expected to be present for all four shows. Students in double-cast roles will receive details later on their responsibilities during their “off” performances.

PRODUCTION Updates

Please bookmark this website and watch your email inbox for regular updates. Be sure to mark ibjmusical@gmail.com as a safe sender to ensure play-related messages reach you. You can also check the Rehearsal Schedule for up-to-date information on which days your student should attend and what they will be working on.

Parent Volunteers

Our annual school musical is a beloved IBJ tradition, and an enormous endeavor each year – parent volunteers are needed throughout the process (no theater experience required)! You can sign up to help at rehearsals, or email us to let us know about other skills, time, or resources you have to offer.

As a reminder, all families with a kindergarten participant must volunteer for at least one regular rehearsal and for one performance. We appreciate your support!

TRANSPORTATION

Students must be picked up from the car line in front of the school on time at 4 pm. Transportation is not provided.

AFTERCARE

This year we are partnering with Growing Minds afterschool program to offer supervised outdoor play on Thursdays only from 4 pm, when rehearsals end, until 5:15 pm. This program will be available for each Thursday rehearsal beginning September 25. There will be no afterschool care available for Tech Week rehearsals, January 26-28. The additional fee for aftercare is $75 for students in grades 3-5 and $30 for students in grades K-2.

Behavioral Expectations

Students must follow CUBS behavioral expectations at all times, and may face consequences up to and including removal from the play if they do not meet those expectations. Please carefully read the Show Contract for details.

Registration Fee

The fee to participate is $125 per performing student in grades 3-5, $60 per student in grades 1-2, $50 for kindergarten students, and $60 for stage crew members, with a maximum of $175 per family. Scholarships are available upon request through your registration form, and fees are waived for the children of Jones Elementary staff members. All interested students are encouraged to participate, regardless of ability to pay!

Payment is due by Friday, October 17 for students in grades 3-5 and by Friday, November 21 for students in grades K-2.

Payment Options

  1. Send a check to school with your student. You may pay for multiple students with a single check. Please make checks out to “Ira B. Jones PTO,” and note “Beauty and the Beast” and your child(ren)’s full name(s) in the memo. Submit directly to the front office or in your child’s class folder.

  2. Pay online via PayPal or credit card. Add $5 per transaction to your total fee, for online payment processing. You may pay for multiple students with a single transaction. Please note “Beauty and the Beast” and your child(ren)’s full name(s) in the “Add a note to your donation” field that appears at the end of the payment process, just before you click “Donate Now.”

  3. Pay @irabjonesFTO (listed under “Charities”) on Venmo. Add $5 per transaction to your total fee, for online payment processing. You may pay for multiple students with a single transaction. Please note “Beauty and the Beast” and your child(ren)’s full name(s) in the Venmo payment notes.